Home, Neighbours & Everyday Problems – Home Challenge

ROUND 1 – GUESS THE PHRASE

Choose from: feel at home · settle in · get on well with · keep to yourself · look out for each other · put up with · There’s something wrong with… · It needs fixing · It keeps happening · Could you have a look at it?

1. You moved three weeks ago and the new place is finally starting to feel normal.

2. Your neighbours collect your parcels and you water their plants when they’re away.

3. Your neighbour is friendly but prefers not to socialise very much.

4. Your washing machine has stopped working again for the third time.

5. Your oven is making a strange noise and you want someone to check it.

6. The people upstairs are a little noisy, but you can tolerate it.

ROUND 2 – HOW BAD IS IT?

Put each problem into one category: NO BIG DEAL / ANNOYING / I NEED THIS FIXED NOW. Compare your answers.

1. The Wi-Fi stops working for ten minutes every evening.

2. Your heating stops working in January.

3. The neighbour’s dog barks early every morning.

4. Your dishwasher is broken.

5. Water is coming through the ceiling.

6. Your neighbour often parks in your space.

7. One light in the kitchen doesn’t work.

8. The shower only has cold water.

Try to use: I could put up with that. • It needs fixing. • That would drive me crazy. • It depends.

ROUND 3 – WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Choose A, B or C. Explain your choice. There is no correct answer.

1. Your neighbour plays loud music late at night.

A Ask them politely to turn it down.

B Put up with it for now.

C Contact the landlord/building manager.

2. Your washing machine stops working.

A Try to fix it yourself.

B Ask someone you know to have a look at it.

C Call a repair service immediately.

3. You move into a new building and don’t know anyone.

A Introduce yourself to your neighbours.

B Wait until you naturally meet them.

C Keep to yourself.

4. A neighbour asks you to collect parcels for them regularly.

A No problem – neighbours should help each other.

B Sometimes, but not too often.

C Say no – you don’t want the responsibility.

5. Your landlord fixes a problem, but two days later it happens again.

A Contact them again immediately.

B Wait a few days.

C Try to solve it yourself.

ROUND 4 – THE PERFECT PLACE TO LIVE

You can choose only FIVE. Which five would make the biggest difference to your everyday life?

   • quiet neighbours     • friendly neighbours     • a big kitchen

   • a balcony or garden     • good public transport     • shops nearby

   • lots of storage     • a great view     • a reliable landlord

   • a safe neighbourhood     • lots of natural light     • a spare room

Now choose ONE thing you could easily do without and ONE thing you couldn’t do without.

FINAL ROUND – WHO WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE NEXT DOOR?

Choose one neighbour and explain why.

1. Very friendly but sometimes noisy OR Very quiet but never says hello

2. Always ready to help but very chatty OR Keeps to themselves but is completely reliable

3. Has children who sometimes make noise OR Has a dog that sometimes barks

4. Often takes in your parcels OR Never takes parcels but never bothers you

5. Invites you for coffee regularly OR Only says hello when you meet